Questions surrounding Adam Simpson's future at the Eagles have been raised after West Coast's recent nightclub fiasco.
At least two players were seen at a nightclub last Saturday amid the Eagles' ongoing battle to combat COVID-19, having had another eight staff members and players ruled out of duties for this weekend.
West Coast are currently investigating the matter, with defender Jackson Nelson among those who attended the Leederville nightclub who has since been forced into AFL health and safety protocols.
Fellow backman Josh Rotham was spotted with Nelson, but despite the frustrating situation, the club recalled the defender for this week after their list was hit with further COVID setbacks.
The issues have placed further unwanted attention on the 18th-placed Eagles, with Port great Kane Cornes suggesting the fall in player standards comes back to the coach.
Speaking on AFL Nation, Cornes expressed his concern for Simpson's prospects for the year ahead, with COVID, form and calls for a list rebuild sure to weigh heavy on the Eagles' senior coach.
“Adam Simpson is going to do well to survive this year,” Cornes said.
“This is a brutal blow, the question is whether he’s up for the rebuild, how long it’s going to take, can he handle the scrutiny and pressure that’s going to come and already has arrived from a parochial supporter base that isn’t used to bottoming out.
“They are in dire need of a rebuild, it’s going to take them five or six years to get it done so is Adam Simpson up for that? Then to chuck this on top of all the other challenges, it’s a slight on the coach in a way. It is not his fault, but he sets the standards.
“I think he’s put players out there who are unfit at times, I think standards have slipped and that’s on the coach.
“To have this embarrassing situation…players going out to a nightclub isn’t a massive offence but when you look at the holistic picture, the coach is in isolation and you have 22 players to pick from and you’re still going out to nightclubs and putting yourself at risk.
"I think he’ll do very well to survive it.”
The Eagles will enter their Round 8 clash with Brisbane heavily unfavoured and likely to endure their sixth straight loss of the season.
Their 2022 season is shaping as the most arduous and frustrating in the club's history, placing a great strain on Simpson.
In a recent interview with 7 News, the West Coast coach stated that he will remain in his tenure with the Eagles for "as long as the club wants me here" after recent speculation and further calls for change.
“This is a moment in time, it’s a really challenging time, so we need to show some resilience,” Simpson said.
“I’ll be here as long as the club wants me here and I’m up for the fight.
“I haven’t read too much of the news or watched too much telly (of commentators questioning his job). I can only get on with my job and do the best I can with what we’ve got.”
Simpson has amassed a record of 115-1-73 with the Eagles, highlighted by the 2018 premiership.
